Michigan
22-9
Nebraska
21-9
Wolverines Fall to Nebraska in B1G Quarterfinals
3/2/2018 11:55:00 PM | Women's Basketball
» Michigan closed to within two points with 2:30 to go in the game, but turned the ball over on consecutive possessions in transition. U-M trailed by as many as eight in the third quarter.
» Katelynn Flaherty finished with five three-pointers to become becoming the second player in NCAA Division I history to hit at least 400 three-pointers. She also tied Kate Thompson's single-season program record of 110.
» Michigan will now await its postseason fate. The NCAA Tournament selection show is set for Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m.
Site: Indianapolis, Ind. (Banker's Life Fieldhouse)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Quarterfinals)
Score: Nebraska 61, Michigan 54
Records: U-M (22-9), NU (21-9)
Next U-M Event: Monday, March 12 -- NCAA Selection Show, 7 p.m.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The University of Michigan women's basketball team closed to within two points with 2:30 remaining, but turned the ball over on successive possessions in transition as Nebraska held on for a 61-54 win in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday evening (March 2) at Banker's Life Fieldhouse.
Michigan closed to within two points, 53-51, after junior Hallie Thome hit a pair at the free-throw line with 2:30 remaining. Nebraska missed a layup but U-M turned it over trying to force the ball down to Thome in transition. Senior Katelynn Flaherty stole the ball right back from Nebraska but turned it over moments later, with the Huskers cashing in on a triple to push their lead to five, 56-51, with 1:20 to go.
Thome hit one at the line with 1:00 on the clock, bringing Michigan back within four but U-M could get no closer in the seven-point loss.
Thome led the way for Michigan with 21 points. Flaherty scored 17 points and hit five three-pointers in the contest which pushed her career total to 402 to become just the second player in NCAA Division I history to hit 400 triples in a career. She also tied Kate Thompson's single-season program record of 110. Sophomore Akienreh Johnson turned in eight points off the bench, with freshman Deja Church chipping in six points.
After trailing by as many as eight points in the third period, Flaherty hit a triple from Johnson to bring Michigan back within four at the end of the third quarter, 37-33.
Michigan opened the fourth quarter with a Thome free throw, followed by a Flaherty triple and a Thome layup to pull back within a basket, 41-39. Michigan got even closer later in the quarter after a Thome three-point play with 6:41 to go to cut the deficit to one point (46-45). Nebraska answered with five straight points, getting a three-point play and a steal-and-score to push the lead back to seven, 51-44, and force a Michigan timeout with 5:17 remaining. Following the timeout, Flaherty nailed her fifth triple of the game to once again bring Michigan within four, 51-47, with 5:02 to go.
U-M hung around, when it got within two points on the Thome free throws to set up the final sequence.
Michigan led four times in the first quarter, the last time after a Thome jumper at the top of the key with 4:09 to go to stake U-M an 11-10 lead. Nebraska took a 12-11 lead with 2:35 left in the frame and never trailed the rest of the game.
U-M awaits its postseason fate, as the NCAA Selection Show is set for Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m.
